links of interest:

Hues of seoul: mystery and suspense in today’s korea (Short Stories)

  • Here are a few of the many places, People, and experiences that inspired “hues of Seoul”:

  • Mt. Namsan: Stunning park at the center of Seoul with trails, museums, an art center, and various tourist destination. Catch the cable car from Myeongdong or walk up to Namsan Tower on one of the many hiking trails. The narration of Hues of Seoul takes places on the slopes of Mt. Namsan. #HuesofSeoul

  • Namsan Tower: Broadcast tower and major tourist destination at the top of Mt. Namsan in the heart of Seoul. Setting for final pages of Hues of Seoul.

  • Bridge of No Return, Demilitarized Zone (DMZ): Haunting bridge where so much of Korea’s painful history in embodied.

  • Bukhansan National Park: Incredible mountains at the top of Seoul for hiking, reflection, and well being. Part of the Korean National Park Service.

  • Incheon (Official Site): Historic port and now growing megacity. A must visit when in Seoul.

  • Hongdae (near Hongik University): Amazing collection of cafes, fine restaurants, nightclubs, street music, street art, and generally the rich pulse of Seoul’s artists.

  • Insa-dong: A mix of traditional and modern in the heart of Seoul’s original city center.

  • Mapo Bridge: One of the many bridges spanning the Han River, which divides Seoul. Sadly, the bridge is one that has seen a number of suicides.

  • Sinsa-dong Garosu-gil: Area in Gangnam for high end shopping, amazing coffee, and great people watching.

  • Manhattan Koreantown: The remaining few blocks of the New York City Koreatown, centered on W 32nd Street.

  • Jeju Island (Official Tourism Site): A must visit for any complete understanding of Korea and it’s varied history.

  • Edam Entertainment: Management home of Korean national treasure Miss Lee Ji-eun (IU), singer, actress, brand ambassador, philanthropist, and more. (Note that Miss Lee Ji-Eun (IU, Uaena) was the inspiration for the tale on Bukansan National Park, “The K-Pop Princess and the Mountain.”)

  • YG Entertainment: Management home of a number of Korean top tier musicians and bands, including Blackpink. (Note that the tale “Jeju Island Enlightening draws inspiration from several singers, to include Blackpink. The reader must figure out which member(s) is (are) the inspiration.)

  • SALT Entertainment: Management company for a diverse group of Korean artists, to include the actress and singer Park Shin-hye (who is referenced).

  • Management SOOP: Management company of artists and singers like Bae Suzy and Gong Hyo-jin (who are both referenced).

  • Goldmedalist Co., Ltd: Management company for leading actor Kim Soo-hyun and others.

  • Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism: A great place to learn about the Korean experience.

  • Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation: Charity overseers of the Korea War Veterans Memorial, Washington, DC.

  • Korean War Veterans Memorial, Washington, DC: Memorial to those who fought to keep Korea free. Maintained by the US National Park Service.

  • Korean War Veterans Association: Korean War & Korea Defense Veterans: A Continuity of Service in the Defense of Freedom
    Incorporated June 14, 1985; Chartered by Congress June 30, 2008.

  • Korean Defense Veterans Association: Enhance, support, advocate for, and educate about the ROK-U.S. Alliance support our Veterans.

The God Song: an Artificial Intelligence awakening over appalachia way (A Novel)

  • Although a work of fiction, here are a few places that can inspire writers:

  • Boomy.com: Instant Music company based in Berkeley, California, that allows even people without any music training to create individual and personalized music.

  • Birthplace of Country Music Museum, Bristol, Virginia. Amazing museum with colocated radio studio that outlines the very early days of the country music recording industry.

  • Carter Family Fold, Hiltons, Virginia: Non-profit organization, with revered music venue, museum, and shop dedicated to keeping the spirit of early country, old-time, and mountain music alive in the hills of southwest Virginia where much of this music was born.

  • The Floyd Country Store, Floyd, VA. Keeper of the flame for a long traditional of live country music.

  • The Crooked Road, Southwest Virginia Cultural Music Trail: Explore the rich history of country music’s many origins.

  • The Country Music Association (CMA)®, Nashville, TN. Decades long association of musicians, songwriters, and industry professionals in country music.

  • Americana Music Association ®, Nashville, TN. professional trade organization that advocates for the authentic voice of American Roots Music.

  • Apple Machine Learning Journal, Apple, Inc. : Running journal of articles authored by Apple engineers on machine learning projects.

  • Google Artificial Intelligence, Google, Inc.: Site for a wide range of information on Google’s effort in AI.

  • MIT Media Lab, Artificial Intelligence: Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s premier experimental lab’s AI initiatives.

And, a few cafes and restaurants where writers and other folk are welcome:

  • The Gourmet Shop, Columbia, SC: Long time staple in Columbia’s Five Points that manages to stay as fresh and welcoming as in the early days when my mother, the late Audrey McClary Mitchell, used to frequent the cafe on a regular basis.

  • Harvest Table, Meadowview, VA. Amazing farm-to-table restaurant in the restored village of Meadowview, VA. Don’t miss the attached Farmer’s Guild Country Store. (Note: Temporarily closed for renovation.)

  • Anthony’s Desserts, Abingdon, VA: Amazing coffee, pastry, ice cream, and related items spot in picturesque Abingdon, Virginia.

  • Blackbird Bakery, Bristol, VA: Great place for coffee (especially espresso), desserts, ice cream, and even live music on certain days.

  • Big City Bread Cafe, Athens, GA: One of a number of great cafe’s in the college town of Athens, GA.

  • White Birch Juice, Abingdon, VA. Great breakfast (and lunch and dinner) spot in the heart of Abingdon.

  • Zazzy’Z Coffee House, Abingdon, VA. Comfortable coffee house, paired with bookstore, readings and a great bakery tucked in the back.

  • Medici on 57th, Hyde Park, Chicago. Great, well-loved, restaurant, born from a gallery and coffee house, only blocks from the famed University of Chicago. Don’t miss the attached bakery next door.

  • Laduree USA, SOHO, New York City, Georgetown, Washington, D.C., and many others. U.S. branch of the Paris bakery institution. A destination for macarons.

  • Begginer Guitar HQ, For those of you looking for solid information on classic guitars used in the country music business, visit this website, which also includes all manner of informative insights on guitars and learning guitar.

Dark sings a distant herald: A christmas story on holding back the brtish twilight (A Novel, Distant Herald series):

Historic locations, pubs, theatre, activities, and charitable links of interest to readers of the Distant Herald novel Series:

Links to the both British and European Union Breixt sites:

Beach Time: Tales from Several Shores:

links of interest:

Hues of Tokyo: Tales of Today’s Japan:

Links of interest:

More links will be added from time to time, so please check back in.